5 women-focused charities that celebs support — and you can too

Oprah Winfrey making calls for hurricane relief in September 2017. (Photo: Getty Images)

The U.S. volunteer rate has been on a downward trajectory for a few years now — but that can change. Although giving money can often feel daunting or even impossible, there are plenty of nonprofits that would love nothing more than the gift of your time, not to mention that research shows volunteering increases your happiness. As 2018 continues as a year fueled by the strength and power of women, below are a few women-focused charities where you can give back without breaking the bank. These are organizations beloved by celebs, so the vetting has already been done. These organizations are working hard to change the world, and they’re already A-lister approved.

Founded by supermodel Christy Turlington Burns after she endured a complicated childbirth, Every Mother Counts is dedicated to making pregnancy and childbirth safe for every woman everywhere. Annually, 303,000 women die during childbirth, and this nonprofit is working to change that. To date, the organization has raised over $13 million, and is putting that money to good use via grants that send people all over the world to help educate and care for women in local communities.

How to get involved: An easy way is by running! Find a race, sign up, and use your run to fundraise for Every Mother Counts.

V-Day

You’ve likely heard of the play The Vagina Monologues. Well, V-Day is a global activist event, created by the playwright Eve Ensler, that allows for her play to be performed royalty-free every Feb. 14. The purpose of the movement is to end violence against women and girls, and the idea is that via performances, V-Day can become an annual moment to raise money and reignite the importance of stopping violence — including sex slavery, rape, incest, battery, and female genital mutilation. As for celebrity support, V-Day counts Jane Fonda, Rosario Dawson, Thandie Newton, and many others as board members.

How to get involved: Organize a V-Day event. The next V-Day isn’t until next year, but it’s never too early to start planning.

Dress for Success

Supported by celebs like Connie Britton, Oprah, Kim Kardashian, and Priyanka Chopra, Dress for Success is a nonprofit with the mission of helping women prepare for economic independence by providing them with developmental tools and professional clothes. A unique part of Dress for Success is its Suiting Program, which helps women get the right outfit to wear for a job interview. Once a woman is hired, she can return to the Suiting Program to receive a full week’s worth of professional clothing.

How to get involved: Donate new or gently used professional clothing to a Dress for Success near you. You can also set up a donation drive among co-workers or friends to make a larger donation.

Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance

Supported by famous women like Rachel Zoe, Molly Sims, and Kelly Ripa, the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance is fully dedicated to funding and promoting research for ovarian cancer in order to find a cure. It is the largest nongovernment funder of ovarian cancer research in the United States and is doing everything possible to make ovarian cancer curable.

How to get involved: There are many volunteer opportunities with the organization, but if you are a survivor of ovarian cancer, there are unique ways to get involved. The Survivors Teaching Students program is one such way, bringing ovarian cancer survivors together with medical students to better educate future health care providers on what the ovarian cancer experience is like.

Chime for Change

Founded by Gucci, and co-founded by Beyoncé and Salma Hayek, Chime for Change promotes and funds projects dedicated to education, health, and justice for women and girls. To date, it’s funded 409 projects in 86 countries, including a documentary film, concerts, and myriad storytelling opportunities.

How to get involved: Getting involved with Chime for Change is as easy as a tweet. Spread the message about gender equality and use the hashtag #ChimeIn. Voilà.

On June 13, Oath is engaging in a day of service. Follow along with @Oath’s #TheGreatBuild across Twitter & Instagram. #ThisIsOath